Welcome to FRE 1120- Section W-10 / Introduction to French I – Fall 2015
La LANGUE, La CULTURE et La CIVILISATION DU MONDE FRANCOPHONE
Professor:
Melchior Cyprien
Fall 2015
Email:
mcyprien@valenciacollege.edu
CRN 17998
Office Hours:
By appointment
Blackboard:
Important announcements will be posted frequently on-line,
Blackboard or Maestro Supersite. Check this regularly.
Maestro Sign-up
Instructions:
Found on Blackboard; read in detail to sign up for correct course
Required Text:
Promenades, 2nd Edition
Mitchell, James; Mitschke, Cherie and Tano, Cheryl. Promenades
Boston, Vista, 2014 (including Web SAM/MAESTRO Online Code)
Pre-requisite:
No preview experience in French language is required.
ADDITIONAL
English Grammar for Students of French (optional)
501 French Verbs (optional)
English/French dictionary (optional)
Meeting Times &
Location
Online
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduction to French I is a four-credit-hour course for students who have no previous experience in
French. There is a mandatory on-line component of the course, which will give the student ample time to
practice grammar skills and hone listening and speaking skills in the target language. A portion of the
material should be studied and practiced online, via Maestro, PRIOR to each class meeting, with Face-toFace instructional time focusing on grammar clarification of previewed material. This is a basic course in
1
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
French providing the student an introduction to the French language and culture through proficiency in
listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The successful student will be able to respond in complete
sentences and engage in basic dialogues on topics such as: greeting; asking and answering questions;
describing self and others; expressing likes and dislikes’ describing daily routines; negotiating elements of
time; talking about the weather, activities, and going places; while showing a mature attitude toward
cultural differences.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
The objective in French 1120 is to promote a balanced, four-skill approach to learning the French language
through listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. At the completion of the first semester in
French, the successful student will have mastered the basic vocabulary and structures of the French
language and achieved an appreciation of the breadth of French and Francophone life. The course will
focus on the structures and the vocabulary necessary to function in everyday situations that one may
encounter when traveling or living in the Francophone (“French-speaking”) world. All of these aspects of
Francophone language and culture will be reinforced by means of group work, drills and oral presentations.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from the Office
for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the
first week of class. The OSD (West Campus SSB, Room 102) determines accommodations based on
appropriate documentation of disabilities. The goal at the OSD is to open doors, remove barriers and assist
you in any way they can. The key to success is matching your needs to the services provided. Here is the
link to Valencia’s OSD website: http://www.valenciacc.edu/osd.
ACADEMIC HONESTY:
Each student is expected to be in full compliance with the college policy on academic honesty as set forth in the
admissions catalog and the student handbook (6HX28: 8-03). I reserve the right to impose appropriate penalties
(ranging from loss of credit for the assignment, all the way to authorizing a grade of “F” for the course, and/or
extended appropriate actions through the office for the Code of Student Conduct) for any non-compliance. This
includes use of an on-line translator; they are not only forbidden for use in any foreign language classroom, but
they are also in most cases useless.
All sources must be properly cited with the MLA format; failure to do so may result in a plagiarism
offense. (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/557/01/ may help with this.)
Important note: All submitted work is to focus on the material that has been taught in class; resist the
temptation to use verb tenses and other grammar structures not yet taught in the course! Working beyond
level can be quite frustrating to your classmates! You are being assessed on the material taught.
EXPECTED STUDENT CONDUCT:
Valencia College is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and learning, and to the development of
responsible personal and social conduct. By enrolling at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for
2
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
knowing and abiding by the rules of appropriate behavior as articulated in the Student Code of Conduct.
The primary responsibility for managing the classroom environment rests with the faculty. Faculty may
direct students who engage in inappropriate behavior that results in disruption of a class to leave; this will
count as an absence. Such students may be subject to other disciplinary action which may include a
warning, withdrawal from class, probation, suspension, or expulsion from the college. Please read the
guideline for classroom behavior on Blackboard and the Student Code of Conduct in the current Valencia
Student Handbook. Please treat everyone with respect and kindness; we are a team and will meet our goals
of success together.
COURSE POLICIES
ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION: Regular attendance and participation are critical factors for
success in a foreign language course.
Read the following details carefully.
Regular and punctual class attendance is one of the most important elements to success in this course; ranks right
up there with being prepared for class. Therefore, your attendance is expected at all scheduled assignments,
discussions, oral activities etc. This is essential for achieving the goals of the course. The attendance will be based
on how often the student in intervene. Late or missing assignments, non-intervention will count as an absence.
Make sure you do submit your assignments on time and always involve in class activities, projects etc. For this
class, each student must involve otherwise, your grade will be affected.
Attendance will be taken each week. This is an online class; there will be no excuses for not doing the assignments
and involving in class projects or activities. A weekly work will be posted each Sunday; student is responsible for
all materials and announcements posted during the week. Every week, Student has to check Supersite and
Blackboard for the announcements. Any class discussion may be subject to inclusion on an exam. Failure to
check or involve regularly in online activities may result in withdrawal from the course. Student who thinks that
he/she cannot keep up with the class must figure out earlier. For more details, read section on Withdrawal
Policy/Procedure.)
Attendance is being defined as physical and mental presence. Student will be marked absent, if he/she
doesn’t do his/her weekly homework or interventions.
PARTICIPATION:
Since regular practice is essential for improving proficiency in foreign language, active participation is
necessary to succeed in this course. It will be determined on the basis of your intervention, listening
comprehension and speaking ability by doing the audio and video activities online. When the student has
recording assignments, he/she is encouraged to speak clearly as much as possible. It is a must because it is
part of your grade.
HOMEWORK / LAB / READING ASSIGNMENTS:
Due to the amount of material to be covered, it will be necessary to prepare a good bit of the material on
your own, outside of class. You will need to study all assignments BEFORE coming to class or before
3
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
doing homework, so that you are ready for the activities that will allow you to practice the vocabulary and
grammar skills during our meeting time. All reading assignments are due on specified dates; you will
see these dates listed in Supersite or Blackboard announcements as we begin each chapter. All of
your works are assigned on Maestro and Blackboard. All written assignments and assessments must be
understandable. Homework and attendance are major portions of your grade. Should a missing assignment
or non-intervention be unavoidable, all students are responsible for securing their notes and assignments.
(See the syllabus)
MAESTRO: This is on-line homework.
The grade that you receive will be based on the grade that you earn for the total of all activities (tests,
quizzes, compositions, oral presentations, exercises for each chapter etc.). As the Maestro
assignments are a significant part of the course; therefore, be certain that you set up your Maestro
account and get started quickly, as these assignments must be completed in a timely fashion, before
their due dates expire. Late assignments will receive an automatic 10% late penalty. Also in order to
complete these assignments a working microphone on your computer is necessary. Do not wait
until the deadline to complete all exercises for a given date. If your internet goes down, you will miss
a significant portion of the grade for that chapter.
Remember Vista has a Support Services for Students: 1-800-248-2813; use this service when you
have Supersite problems. If you have difficulty learning the language, please do not hesitate to
contact your professor or seek for extra help via tutors.
WORKBOOK/LAB:
Each student is to complete and submit workbook and lab manual lessons by each due date. These will
include, but are not necessarily limited to, video and lab assignments on Maestro. If you do not have a
computer you may use the computers in the Computer Access lab, located in the West Campus library, or
in any open Computer Lab (there are several labs on any VC campus). All students are required to use
the language lab at least one hour for every three hours of class time or the equivalent in Maestro
assignments.
PORTFOLIO / JOURNAL / QUIZZES:
Further details will be covered in class and posted on-line.
ORAL PRESENTATIONS, ORAL EXAMS:
There will be a few oral presentations and oral exams. Each presentation/exam will be roughly five to ten
minutes long (including Q. and A.) on topics/ themes discussed in class. Topics and details will be given at
the time of assignment. All sources must be cited. The presentations are 10% of the student’s grade. There
will be no make ups for missing presentation. Therefore, it is important for the student to submit his/her
work. For the presentations, students will be paired at random and will be given a speaking prompt related
to the themes studied in the corresponding chapters of the text. The presentation will be done online in
French. DO NOT miss it because there are no make ups.
4
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
CHAPTER EXAMS:
For each Chapter, there will be an Exam or Unité exams which will be found on Supersite. It is the
student’s responsibility to keep up with all announcements and changes. These exams will cover all
vocabulary and grammar structures of the current chapter. No make ups will be given. In case you miss an
exam, that exam will be considered your lowest grade exam. (See note below for a breakdown of
assignments and the tests).
Withdrawal Policy/Procedure:
Student who deems necessary to withdraw from this class is entirely responsible for it. The
withdrawal deadline for Fall 2015 is November 13th @ 11:59 PM
However, before you decide to withdraw from any course, it is wise to first consult with both your
professor and your academic/financial-aid advisor, especially if you are receiving financial aid. Do not
wait until the last week of the Semester to do so. After the Drop/Refund deadline of September 8 (@
11:59 PM), any student who either withdraws, or is withdrawn from the course through ATLAS, on or
before the Withdrawal Deadline, will receive a grade of “W.” It is the student’s responsibility to
withdraw via ATLAS from any course that he/she does not intend to finish. (See note below).
NB. It is your responsibility to withdraw from classes through ATLAS; notifying professor of intent is
NOT a withdrawal. After the withdraw deadline, the student is not allowed to withdraw. If any student
stops attending the class and does not withdraw through ATLAS, he/she will receive a grade “F” for
this course.
Grading: Following a breakdown, along with a format to keep a handy record of your grades as you earn
them:
Assignments
Percentage of grade
Attendance and Participation (Projets de class)/Blackboard/Supersite
10%
4 Tests/ Unité exams (4 x 5%
20%)
5 Quizzes (5 x 2 %
10%)
2 Oral activities @ 5% each
10%
Midterm (Blackboard)
10%
2 Compositions (on Blackboard) 5% each
10%
5
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
Final exams
15%
Assignments (Homework Supersite)
15%
Total
100%
GRADING SCALE:
90 - 100 %
80 - 89 %
70 - 79 %
60 - 69 %
0 - 59 %
A
B
C
D
F
TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
**THIS SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE; THE PROFESSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE
CHANGES AS NECESSARY. IT IS THE STUDENT’S RESPONSIBILITY TO KEEP UP WITH
CHANGES. **
August 31st – December 20 2015
Calendrier
SEMAINES
SEMAINE 1
Aug 31st –Sept. 6th
LESSONS
Introduction au cours/Syllabus.
Présentation Blackboard/Supersite
Student introduction (participation and first
attendance)
Extrafrenchavecsous-titres
ASSIGNMENTS
1) In a three minutes recording in French or
English or both, each student, introduce
yourself and send it on voice board on
Supersite. On or before September 6th
2) Describe yourself in 10 sentences in French
or English or both and send it through
Blackboard. Tell where are you from? What do
know about French? It is due on or before
September 6th.
3) Watch the series French avec sous-titres on
YouTube to get ready to explore the French
culture.
SEMAINE 2
September 7th- 13th Leçon 1A : grammaire / vocab
Leçon 1A : exercices
September 7, Labor
Day observed
September 8 Add / Drop and Refund
Deadline (@ 11:59 PM)
Leçon 1A : Projet de classe
6
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
Quiz 1: Leçon 1A, Vocabulary Quiz 1
Due on or before September 13th
Quiz 1/Unit 1 A/ Supersite
Homework due on Supersite
SEMAINE 3
September 14th 20th
Leçon 1B : grammaire / vocab
TEST 1 DUE: Unité 1, Unit Test 1. To do on
supersite.
Leçon 1B: exercices
It is due on or before September 20th
Chapitre 1- examen/ Unité 1, Unit Test 1
Supersite
Homework due on Supersite
Leçon 2A : grammaire / vocab
Quiz 2 : Leçon 2A, Vocabulary Quiz 2
Due on or before September 27th
Leçon 2A : exercices
Homework due on Supersite
SEMAINE 4
September 21st –
27th
Leçon 2A : projet de classe
http://video.about.com/french/How-to-UseInversions-in-French.htm
Quiz 2/Unit 2 A/ Supersite
Chapitre 2- Examen/ Unité 2, Unit Test 1.
SEMAINE 5
Leçon 2B : grammaire / vocab
September 28thOctober 4th
To be done on Supersite on or before Sunday
October 4th
Leçon 2B : exercices
Homework due on Supersite
Chapitre 2- Examen/ Unité 2, Unit Test 1. To
do on Supersite.
SEMAINE 6
October 5th -11th
Leçon 3 A : grammaire / vocab
Leçon 3A : exercices
Composition 1:
Read “Les gens” in page 119 of your book.
Then, explain in French (12 sentences) what
people in Paris do in Summer when they do not
travel? (use your own words)
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DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
Leçon 3A : projet de classe
Send through Blackboard on or before
October 11th
Quiz 3/Unit 3 A/ Supersite
Quiz 3 : Leçon 3A, Vocabulary, Quiz 2
Homework due on Supersite
http://french.about.com/od/grammar/a/adjective
s possessive.htm
SEMAINE 7
Leçon 3B : grammaire / vocab
October 12th- 18th
Chapitre 3- Examen/ Unité 3, Unit Test 1.
To do on Supersite on or before Sunday
October 18th
Leçon 3B: exercices
Homework due on Supersite
Leçon 3B : Projet de classe
SEMAINE 8
October 19th – 25th
Première Présentation orale
Midterm exam
1) ORAL 1 : Décrivez en français votre
endroit (ville, montagne, mer…) préféré, et
pourquoi ? 12 phrases. Send through supersite
voice board before October 25th.
Projet de classe
2) Midterm exam will cover Chapters 1
through 3. It will be posted on Blackboard and
due on or before October 23th.
Homework due on Supersite
SEMAINE 9
October 26th November 1st
Quiz 4: Leçon 4A, Vocabulary Quiz 2
Leçon 4A : grammaire / vocab
Leçon 4A : exercices
To do on Supersite on or before Sunday
November 1st
Leçon 4A: projet de classe
Homework due on Supersite
Quiz 4/Unit 4 A/ Supersite
SEMAINE 10
Homework due on Supersite
Leçon 4B : grammaire / vocab
November 2nd –
8th
Leçon 4B : exercices
Leçon 4B : Projet de classe
SEMAINE 11
Class Project will be announced.
Withdrawal Deadline: November 13th @
8
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
11:59 PM
November 9th –
15th
Chapitre 4- Examen / Unité 4, Unit Test 1.
Deuxième Présentation orale
1) Unité 4, Unit Test 1 is due on Supersite on
or before November 15th.
Projet de classe:
2) ORAL 2: In 10 sentences, explain in French
what do you do during the weekday?
Send through Voice board on Supersite due on
or before November 15th.
3) Projet de classe. Students will watch a
video and answer the questions
Homework due on Supersite
SEMAINE 12
Leçon 5A : grammaire / vocab
Leçon 5A : exercices
Quiz 5 : Leçon 5A, Vocabulary Quiz 2
To do on Supersite on or before Sunday
November 22nd
Leçon 5A : projet de classe
November 16th 22nd
Homework due on Supersite
Quiz 5/Unit 5 A/ Supersite
Thanksgiving Break
School is open on 23th and 24th
SEMAINE 13
School closed on
November 23
29th
25th
–
29th
rd-
Projet de classe (practices)
Projet de classe: Write a paragraph in French on
what you are going to do on your
Thanksgiving Break. Use the verb “aller”. It is
due on Blackboard
Composition 2
Composition 2: Student will write a letter in
French on what he/she learns during the
Semester.
Write a letter in French (15 sentences) to a
friend or relative to explain the differences
and similarities between French and English.
Send through Blackboard on or before
December 29th.
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DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
Homework due on Supersite
SEMAINE 14
Leçon 5B : grammaire / vocab
Class project will be announced
th
November 30
December 6th-
Leçon 5 B : exercices
Leçon 5B : projet de classe
Test: Unité 5, Unit Test 2
Homework due on Supersite
TEST 5 DUE:
1) Unité 5, Unit Test 2
Due on or before December 6th. Send through
Supersite
SEMAINE 15
Review les unités 1-5.
Last homework due on Supersite
th
December 7 13th
Last day of class December 13th
SEMAINE 16
December 14th 20th
Final exam/Examen final
Due on or before December 16th
Final exam
NB: The homework will be assigned each week on Supersite or Blackboard.
It is the student’s responsibility to follow up.
ON THE FINAL SCHEDULED DATE/TIME, STUDENT MUST SUBMIT HIS/HER
EXAM. NO MAKE-UP TEST WILL BE GIVEN FOR THE FINAL EXAM.
FRENCH 1120
COURSE COMPETENCIES
●
Introduce self and others
●
Describe self and others
●
Ask and answer questions
●
Express likes and dislikes
●
Describe daily routines
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DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
●
Negotiate elements of time
●
Talk about the environment
●
Express duration of time
●
Talk about the past
●
Compare people and things
●
Show a mature attitude toward cultural differences
Student Core Competencies
Draft D-2
4/99
Student Code of Conduct
6Hx28:10-03
Classroom Behavior:
Valencia College is dedicated to promoting honorable personal and social conduct. By enrolling at
Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules articulated in the
Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03). The instructor reserves the right to refer students who engage in
activities that are disruptive to the learning environment to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action. The
following list, though not exhaustive, includes things which are disruptive to the learning environment:
.
Use of any electronic devices including but not restricted to: cell phones, iPods, and laptop computers
(documentation from OSD will be taken into consideration). (Professor’s note: We move around frequently
in this course. If permission is granted, any damage is at the owner’s risk.)
.
.
.
Preparing homework for other courses during class
Engaging in private conversations with classmates while class is in session
Excessive tardiness
11
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.
.
Leaving and re-entering the classroom while the class is in session (Documented medical issues will be
taken into consideration.)
.
.
Excessive poor sportsmanship during class activities
Comments of a derogative or disparaging nature
In addition, Valencia College strives to provide a drug-free learning environment for all those involved in
the academic experience. Our policy is as follows:
Policy:
In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989,
Valencia College will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt and implement a program to
prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by Valencia College
students or employees on college premises or as part of any college activity.
12
DISCLAIMER: The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus if necessary.
Changes will be announced in class. It is the student's responsibility to keep up
with any changes. Prof reserves right to work with any extenuating issues in a term.